I'm calling this a "modified" fat fast because I don't consider myself an adherent of Atkins per se (although what I eat is darn close to his plan). Atkins lays out very strict rules for when to do a fat fast - my weight has been stagnant for 21 days which doesn't (or barely) qualifies per his rules. But I was going crazy and starting to Google all kinds of crash diets and fantasizing about cheating due to the frustration, so for me personally doing this makes sense. In other words, big disclaimer, don't try this at home...

The goal is to get 5 meals of about 200 calories each for 1000 calories a day, with 75-90% of calories coming from fat.

I'm doing it dairy free, too, because I keep wondering if that will help me lose at a more motivating pace. (And yes, I'm aware that I'd probably serve myself best at accepting to lose at a pace of a pound or two a month, but that's not going to happen right now...)

I've made a simple list of dairy-free fat fast "meals" (some call them "feedings" because they are pretty skimpy), and I spent a few minutes on Sunday weighing out macadamia nuts and making fat bombs.

My husband is out of town for the week and so I'm going to try to do 5 days of this (recommended is 3-5, and if I feel yucky I'll stop early)

Starting weight 202.4 after 21 days of weight between 203.6-201.6 (mostly at 203)

Sarah I am looking forward to your continuing posts on this! I have to ask... how are you feeling? Do you notice anything different? (Jitters, calmness, clearer brain?!) This is really interesting to read.. Thank you!

Brooklynn

01-29-2014 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannaskipandlaugh
(Post 4931037)

Sarah I am looking forward to your continuing posts on this! I have to ask... how are you feeling? Do you notice anything different? (Jitters, calmness, clearer brain?!) This is really interesting to read.. Thank you!

Same here! Great Job!!

shr1nk1ngme

01-29-2014 06:04 PM

I am also very interested in hearing what your results look like and how you are feeling. I am not "stalled" but my weight loss has slowed dramatically and my blood ketones have dropped to nearly nil on my ketone monitor.

I have decreased my dietary protein and increased my fat intake to see if I can get back into ketosis that way, since I am already at <20 carbs (<15 if you take my JUDDD eating pattern into consideration). But if my weight loss doesn't show signs of picking back up in the next week or so, I was also considering a 3-5 day fat fast.

calee

01-29-2014 09:31 PM

Hi Sarah, it's exciting to read how well you're doing. I'm glad that this is working for you. Please update even after you stop so that we see if the weight loss maintains.

Feeling cranky. When hunger strikes now, it's urgent. No waiting for 30 min to see if it passes. I think I'll make 5 days but certainly wouldn't want to go beyond. It's also a good thing my husband is traveling this week - not in a great mood and making meals for him would be hard. My toddler is getting toddler food this week, LOL.

In the past when I've done a fat fast I've maintained most of the loss, sometimes added a pound - and often the scale is stuck for a week or so. I post regularly in the Lose 5 Pounds challenge so you'll be able to see how I do longer term, no worries!

Was really intensely hungry around noon, and the macadamias barely made a dent. I was really glad I'd gone low on day 1 (had one less meal than planned because I wasn't hungry) because I was pretty sure I'd go over today. I ate my crazy concoction of chia pudding, which I don't exactly recommend as it was yucky tasting, but on the other hand between that and a giant mug of bouillon the hunger was sated and I didn't think about food again until 7. Then I fried up some Polish sausages (from actual Poland, mind you!) and had a bunch of that - two meals worth really but more because it was delicious and I wanted to feel "fed" not just that I'd consumed my minimum. And then to my surprise wasn't hungry the rest of the night so I didn't actually end up going over. And today I'm feeling like I could go on for several more days (but I won't - although I might try this again next time my husband travels).

Total calories : 1121
Ratios : 84% fat, 7% carb, 9% protein (total carb grams 20g, 8g fiber - actually carbs was probably lower because my sausages had no filler or sugars, but the ones I selected on my software did have some so I've gone with the counts from the software)

Start weight : 202.4 (after 21 day stall around 203)
Day 1 202.4
Day 2 200.6
Day 3 198.6
Day 4 199.0
Day 5 198.4
Final : 197.8 (morning after Day 5) --> now return to regular low carb eating
Total loss : -4.6 (almost a pound a day)

Now, we'll see if it sticks.

I'll come by in a week or two and show the daily weights, which I expect will be a slight blip up and then stable (I don't expect I'd lose any weigh the week after this). It's quite frequent for my weight to hover at a number for almost a week before dropping anyway...

Raises questions :
- is it the fat?
- does it speed or deepen ketosis?
- is it just the very low calories?

Tips for others :
-plan the foods you'll eat and have them ready (measure nuts, make mayo, etc -but plan out your menus)
-eat at home, on your own - this is very antisocial and being around others eating normal foods and normal volumes would be really challenging
-track meticulously, even if you're not a tracker, because hitting target fat percentage is not intuitive (there are tons of free sites and apps)

wannaskipandlaugh

02-01-2014 09:54 AM

Sarah... this was such an educational post. I thank you so much for sharing your Fat Fast journey with us! It just proves that it will work (hopefully for us all) if a stall occurs. It is a short duration which is nice.....

I have to ask.. How is your mood now after the cranky 2nd day? How about hormone feelings (warm flashes, coldness etc) Any muscle pain ? or just feel GREAT?!

Thank you!!

calee

02-01-2014 11:40 AM

Thanks for journaling your experience Sarah!

shr1nk1ngme

02-01-2014 01:30 PM

I raised my fat and lowered my protein and WOW has it made a huge difference. My blood ketones are up significantly and consistently, my blood sugar is down, and the weight loss is no longer semi-stalled.

I have a had a few moments of low-carb flu, though, when my body was in rebellion against burning ketones and my brain felt very foggy. When that happened, I ate a hard-boiled egg and I was fine afterward.